Writing to Achieve Cohesion Cohesion Nouns that belong together Clear pronouns Conjunctions and transitions Review A Review B

all of its parts stick together to form a unified whole all of its ideas are arranged and connected in a way that makes sense When we say that a piece of writing has cohesion, we mean that Cohesion If a paragraph is cohesive, the reader can easily follow the writer’s thoughts and understand his or her message.

Cohesion Here are three tools that writers use to make their writing cohesive nouns that belong together pronouns with clear reference conjunctions and transitions

Cohesion Mark Twain opens Life on the Mississippi with this cohesive paragraph about his subject: The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. Considering the Missouri its main branch, it is the longest river in the world—four thousand three hundred miles. It seems safe to say that it is also the crookedest river in the world, since in one part of its journey it uses up one thousand three hundred miles to cover the same ground that the crow would fly over in six hundred and seventy-five.

Nouns that belong together See how Mark Twain achieves cohesion by using nouns that belong together. The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. Considering the Missouri its main branch, it is the longest river in the world—four thousand three hundred miles. It seems safe to say that it is also the crookedest river in the world, since in one part of its journey it uses up one thousand three hundred miles to cover the same ground that the crow would fly over in six hundred and seventy-five. These nouns belong together because they all refer to the topic of the paragraph, the Mississippi River.

To make your writing cohesive, make a list of nouns that belong with your topic before you begin to write. Nouns that belong together Topic: hybrid cars Nouns:gasoline, fuel, engine, motor, power, electricity, batteries

Topic Sentence: Many automotive companies are developing hybrid cars. Give your topic in the topic sentence of a paragraph and use the nouns that belong with your topic in supporting sentences within the paragraph. Nouns that belong together Supporting sentence: New engines that run on both batteries and gasoline make these cars more fuel efficient. You can test your writing for cohesion by making sure that each paragraph includes many nouns that belong with the topic each sentence in a paragraph supports the main idea given in your topic sentence

Nouns that belong together 2.At higher speeds, the hybrid runs on gasoline or a combination of gas and electric power. 3.When the car coasts or comes to a stop, the gasoline engine charges the batteries. Identify the nouns in each sentence that relate to the topic of the paragraph, hybrid cars. 1.At low speeds, the car runs on electricity. Topic Sentence: A hybrid car saves fuel by combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor.

Nouns that belong together Identify the nouns in each sentence that relate to the topic of the paragraph, hybrid cars. 1.At low speeds, the car runs on electricity. Topic Sentence: A hybrid car saves fuel by combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor. Car refers to hybrid car, and electricity relates to hybrid car.

Nouns that belong together Identify the nouns in each sentence that relate to the topic of the paragraph, hybrid cars. Topic Sentence: A hybrid car saves fuel by combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor. 2.At higher speeds, the hybrid runs on gasoline or a combination of gas and electric power. Gasoline and power both relate to hybrid car.

Nouns that belong together Identify the nouns in each sentence that relate to the topic of the paragraph, hybrid cars. Topic Sentence: A hybrid car saves fuel by combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor. 3.When the car coasts or comes to a stop, the gasoline engine charges the batteries. Car refers to hybrid car, and engine and batteries are related to the topic hybrid car.

Clear pronouns See how Mark Twain achieves cohesion by using clear pronouns. Pronouns create cohesion by referring to something that the writer has already mentioned. The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. Considering the Missouri its main branch, it is the longest river in the world—four thousand three hundred miles. It seems safe to say that it is also the crookedest river in the world, since in one part of its journey it uses up one thousand three hundred miles to cover the same ground that the crow would fly over in six hundred and seventy-five.

Clear pronouns Expletive constructions It does not always function as a pronoun. The subject can appear after the verb in some sentences that begin with it. It is clear In such sentences, it is an expletive, or a place holder that simply gets the sentence started. that I was mistaken. What is clear? That I was mistakenis clear. The first it in Twain’s third sentence is an expletive: It seems safe to saythat it is also the crookedest river in the world.That it is also the crookedest river in the worldseems safe to say. Subject

The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river,... Considering the Missouri its main branch, it is the longest river in the world.... It seems safe to say that it is also the crookedest river in the world, since in one part of its journey it uses up one thousand three hundred miles.... Clear pronouns Although Twain doesn’t repeat “Mississippi River” even once in his paragraph, we understand his meaning because there is no doubt what the pronouns it and its refer to. When you write, create cohesion by using pronouns to refer to important nouns, such as your topic. Make sure that each pronoun clearly refers to one noun.

Clear pronouns 2.The president stepped out onto the balcony. An enthusiastic crowd cheered to see him. 3.Professor Ebady discovered these scrolls last week. Judging by their contents, they are almost two thousand years old. For the following sentences, identify the noun to which each underlined pronoun refers. 1.This computer was one of the first invented. It is the size of a small house.

Clear pronouns For the following sentences, identify the noun to which each underlined pronoun refers. 1.This computer was one of the first invented. It is the size of a small house.

Clear pronouns For the following sentences, identify the noun to which each underlined pronoun refers. 2.The president stepped out onto the balcony. An enthusiastic crowd cheered to see him.

Clear pronouns For the following sentences, identify the noun to which each underlined pronoun refers. 3.Professor Ebady discovered these scrolls last week. Judging by their contents, they are almost two thousand years old.

Conjunctions and transitions Another way to achieve cohesion is to connect ideas carefully by using conjunctions and transitions.conjunctionstransitions The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. Considering the Missouri its main branch, it is the longest river in the world—four thousand three hundred miles. It seems safe to say that it is also the crookedest river in the world, since in one part of its journey it uses up one thousand three hundred miles to cover the same ground that the crow would fly over in six hundred and seventy-five. See how Twain uses conjunctions and transitions. The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. Considering the Missouri its main branch, it is the longest river in the world—four thousand three hundred miles. It seems safe to say that it is also the crookedest river in the world, since in one part of its journey it uses up one thousand three hundred miles to cover the same ground that the crow would fly over in six hundred and seventy-five.

Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses of equal importance. They include and, but, or, yet, nor, for, and so. Conjunctions and transitions Conjunctions A conjunction is a connecting word that links words, phrases or clauses. Correlative conjunctions work in pairs to connect equally important elements. They include both... and, not (only)... but (also), either... or, and neither... nor. Subordinating conjunctions connect clauses that are not of the same importance. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, because, before, since, so that, whenever, that, which, and who/whom.

Conjunctions and transitions Transitions Transitional words and phrases are used to show relationships between ideas and to make connections in time and place. Comparing Ideasalso andanothersimilarly Contrasting Ideasstill butin spite ofhowever Chronological Orderafter thennextfirst Spatial Orderinto overinhere Order of Importancefirst lastmainlyto begin with Cause and Effectfor sinceso thattherefore

Conjunctions and transitions Both conjunctions and transitions connect ideas by showing how they relate to each other. Contrasting Ideas It is not a commonplace river, Comparing Ideas It is the longest river in the world... Idea 1 Idea 2 It is also the crookedest... Idea 1 Idea 2 Cause and Effect... since in one part of its journey it uses up one thousand three hundred miles to cover the same ground that the crow would fly over in six hundred and seventy-five. Idea 3 but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable.

Conjunctions and transitions 2.Although this fruit drink seems healthful, it contains too much sugar. 3.I want to learn a language that I can speak regularly; therefore, Spanish seems best. For each sentence, explain the function of the underlined word. 1.The new mural will improve the appearance of the lounge and express school spirit.

Conjunctions and transitions For each sentence, explain the function of the underlined word. 1.The new mural will improve the appearance of the lounge and express school spirit. The coordinating conjunction and shows that expressing school spirit is a benefit in addition to improving the appearance of the lounge.

Conjunctions and transitions For each sentence, explain the function of the underlined word. The subordinating conjunction although shows that the apparent healthfulness of the drink contrasts with the amount of sugar it contains. 2.Although this fruit drink seems healthy, it contains too much sugar.

Conjunctions and transitions For each sentence, explain the function of the underlined word. The transition therefore indicates cause and effect. Wanting to learn a commonly spoken language makes the speaker want to learn Spanish. 3.I want to learn a language that I can speak regularly; therefore, Spanish seems best.

Writing to achieve cohesion [End of Section] Identify whether each pair of ideas is connected by nouns that belong together (N), clear pronouns (P), or conjunctions and transitions (CT). 1. Above the fireplace hung a picture of Lord Quimby. No one entering the room could ignore that portrait. 2.The mayor has proposed building a convention center. However, the council wants to invest in a stadium. 3.This guitar has no electronic parts. A metal resonator allows it to be heard from far away. 4.Downhill skiing was too expensive, so we decided to go snowshoeing. On Your Own

Writing to achieve cohesion Answers Identify whether each pair of ideas is connected by nouns that belong together (N), clear pronouns (P), or conjunctions and transitions (CT). 1. Above the fireplace hung a picture of Lord Quimby. No one entering the room could ignore that portrait. 2.The mayor has proposed building a convention center. However, the council wants to invest in a stadium. 3.This guitar has no electronic parts. A metal resonator allows it to be heard from far away. 4.Downhill skiing was too expensive, so we decided to go snowshoeing. N CT P

Review A Connect each pair of ideas by writing in the blank an appropriate noun, pronoun, conjunction or transition, as indicated. 1.If you see Javier, give ________ this message. (pronoun) 2.In the Peruvian desert giant animal figures were carved long ago. No one is sure who made these ________. (noun) 3.________ we had already read all of the books on the list, we voted on a new selection. (conjunction) 4.Everyone is supposed to bring his or her favorite snack food. I made some ________. (noun) 5.Unlike birds, these mammals do not migrate when the weather gets cold. ________, they hibernate. (transition)

Review A Connect each pair of ideas by writing in the blank an appropriate noun, pronoun, conjunction or transition, as indicated. 1.If you see Javier, give ________ this message. (pronoun) 2.In the Peruvian desert giant animal figures were carved long ago. No one is sure who made these ________. (noun) 3.________ we had already read all of the books on the list, we voted on a new selection. (conjunction) 4.Everyone is supposed to bring his or her favorite snack food. I made some ________. (noun) 5.Unlike birds, these mammals do not migrate when the weather gets cold. ________, they hibernate. (transition) him images Since trail mix Instead [possible answers]

Review B 1.Include nouns related to this place. 2.Use the pronoun it or its, making sure that each pronoun clearly refers to a particular noun. 3.Connect ideas by using conjunctions and transitions. 4.Mark your paragraph in different colors to identify where you used each method for achieving cohesion. Write a paragraph telling why a particular place is important or interesting to you.

Review B [possible answer] Write a paragraph telling why a particular place is important or interesting to you. 1. Include nouns related to this place. 2. Use the pronoun it or its, making sure that each pronoun clearly refers to a particular noun. 3. Connect ideas by using conjunctions and transitions. 4. Mark your paragraph in different colors to identify where you used each method for achieving cohesion. Liberty Park has something for everyone. In its southwest corner is an aviary, home to dozens of rare birds. The northern end of the park features several playgrounds, which children swarm over in the summer. The west side also includes a merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, and other rides. For those who love exploring history and different cultures, a folk art museum occupies the center of the park. A family could easily enjoy a whole day in this special place.

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